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The 'Zipper Queen' volunteers at repair cafes to restore busted zippers

NPR | By Jeanette Woods,

Jason Fuller, Sarah Handel

Published February 16, 2026 at 4:19 PM EST

Michelle Elise is known in repair cafe circles as the "Zipper Queen." She finds that most broken zippers just need some TLC, not replacing.

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When the Olympic record is your age! Meet 54-year-old Minnesotan Rich Ruohonen

Scott Detrow, Jason Fuller, Justine Kenin

NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with the 54-year-old curler, Rich Ruohonen, the oldest American Winter Olympian to ever compete
Minnesota Democrats blame state Republicans for helping bring on the federal surge

Dana Ferguson

Republicans in the state legislature invited Nick Shirley to the state where he made misleading videos about immigrant fraud and that helped push Minnesota into the ICE surge.
Extremist rhetoric is often found in government messaging. Who's the target?

Odette Yousef

In a rare move, the White House took down a racist post last week from one of President Trump's social media accounts. But extremism researchers say it fits a pattern of mainstreaming extremist ideas.
How 2016's Black art and culture set the stage for 2026

Ashley Brown, Marc Rivers, Juana Summers, Sarah Handel

NPR's Juana Summers talks to critics Angelica Jade Bastién and Vinson Cunningham about 2016's music, literature, politics, and on-screen representation as the nation celebrates Black History Month.
The U.S. women's hockey team is dominating the Olympics. Now they will play for gold

Becky Sullivan

The Americans, whose captain Hilary Knight is leading a generation of thrilling young talent, are undefeated through six games at the Olympics — and they're outscoring their opponents 31 to 1.